After a Hurricane, Here's When You Should Tarp Your Roof 

After a storm has passed through your area, you may experience any or all of the following:

• The light shining through your roof
• Water dripping from the ceiling.
• Water can be seen seeping through your ceiling or down your walls.
• Take note of any dark or yellow spots on the ceiling.
• Notice missing roof shingles or shingle granules on the ground or in your gutters
• Notice any dents in your roof or dings in your gutters

If you notice any of these signs of a faulty roofing system, contact your insurance company right away. Your insurance company may request that you secure temporary repairs while you wait for a roof inspector to investigate. It is critical to contact a professional roofing company as soon as possible to tarp your roof.

Your insurance company may make this request for a variety of reasons. First, in the aftermath of a storm, many other homeowners are likely to be lined up for the same service, and you may have to wait your turn. Most importantly, tarping your roof as soon as possible will stop the leak(s) and prevent further damage to your home.

The main reason your compromised roof should be tarped is for your family's safety. When water continues to enter your home and creates an environment conducive to toxic mold spore growth, your family's health is jeopardized. Furthermore, fires can start when water comes into contact with your home's electrical system.

Another reason to tarp your roof is to protect your belongings. Water isn't the only threat that can enter your home and cause structural and furniture damage. Rodents can enter through holes in your roof. After storms destroyed their nests, squirrels, rats, and insects are desperately looking for new homes.

Some of the consequences of your damaged roof will be covered by your standard homeowner's insurance policy, but others will not. Roof tarps, for example, are typically covered, whereas mold and rodent damage are not.

Most insurance policies state that once a roof has been compromised, it is the insured's responsibility to protect the property from further damage. You could buy a tarp from a big box store and tarp the roof yourself, but why risk a nasty fall on a slick roof? If you have a leaking roof and haven't gotten help yet, we'd love to give you the peace of mind you're looking for. Give Roof Tarp & Board Up a call today to tarp and protect your home after a recent storm. Your home will thank you!